- Argos Wityu member since 2003
- Speaks French, English, Czech and some German
- HEC Paris
- Argos Wityu member since 2003
- Speaks French, English, Czech and some German
- HEC Paris
Can you introduce yourself in a few words? Your age, your family situation and the country you live in?
Karel
I’m 44 years old, I live in France, and I’m married with two children – a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy
What path led you to Argos and the position you hold today?
Karel
I joined Argos almost 20 years ago, in the very beginning of my professional life, shortly after graduating.
Is this the path you thought you would take when you started your studies?
Karel
Not really, I think that when I started my studies, I did not even know that something like
private equity existed.
The world of private equity has changed a lot in recent years. What is your definition of PE? How do you see it?
Karel
The main role and contribution of private equity is to set up the right agile and pragmatic governance to help companies and management teams implement growth. Over the years, ‘growth’ has more explicitly become ‘sustainable growth’.
Some say we are the average of the people we meet. What do you think? What do you think?
Karel
I think my father, a compulsive entrepreneur, influenced my desire and willingness to embrace a unique career. I was also shaped by my mother’s sensibility – her taste for beautiful things, her capacity for wonder. And of course, my friends are the people who inspire me the most.
What encounter - or moment - stands out in your time at Argos?
Karel
Excitement to meet new people and learn or do new things.
You interact daily with managers. Is there an entrepreneur you admire in the market ?
Karel
The full-team offsite event where the size of the team first exceeded 50 people – a very rewarding moment to see so many faces, hands and forces pushing in the same direction.
Outside of your job, what are your passions or commitments?
Karel
There is not one person who would specifically inspire me, I tend to look for inspiration from all people whom I meet – we all have the power to inspire, very often without knowing it.
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Karel
I’m a big fan of sports, all kinds of sports – some of them actively, many of them not.
How do you find balance in your life as a whole?
Karel
I see myself … 10 years older, and with hopefully the same energy as today.
“The main role and contribution of private equity is to set up the right agile and pragmatic governance to help companies and management teams implement growth.”
What is your definition of PE?
Karel
My balance comes from spending as much time as possible with family and people who count for me – not doing anything special, just spending time and trying to make them feel happy.
You have been working at Argos for 20 years. Can you tell us about your journey within the firm? What have been the major changes between the small team you were and the fund that Argos is today?
Karel
I’ve been with Argos since the early 2000’s – I had joined as an analyst in the investment team of the Paris office. Twenty years later, I’m one of the group’s managing partners. We have grown into a much more institutional setup, yet with the same entrepreneurial spirit in our daily jobs!
If you would like to have a direct discussion with me, feel free to
Companies I Support
TECH
Revenues €60 M
FRANCE
GOODS
Revenues €100 M
FRANCE
FOOD
Revenues €43 M
FRANCE
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